Post by Trade facilitator on Sept 29, 2021 18:20:34 GMT 1
What To Do To Make Nigerian Agro-Export Commodities Conform With International Standards
I am sure that you will understand the need to talk about what to be done to make Nigeria’s agro-export commodities to meet international standards.
Nigeria has the potential of making earnings from agro-commodities to be far more than income from crude oil. Our goods are in high demand all over the world but the country had not been successful in exporting those goods and services that are in high demand overseas.
In a recent conference held in Lagos, Nigeria, experts tried to proffer solutions to the impediments to the export of local products and the huge economic gains that could be realized if the right decisions were taken to do the right things.
Nigeria has more than 15 million Nigerians living abroad, and they yearn for local foods and services. This country could have been earning billions of dollars from exportation of perishable goods if the right environment was created to handle the export.
One point to note is that the situation under which our perishable and manufactured goods are produced in the country is still below the standard acceptable in the foreign countries where the demand for those goods is very high.
During the conference, many experts in aviation and cargo handling companies brainstormed on how to maximize the benefits of Nigerian made products.
It is important to look at what one of the experts said, he is the CEO of ABX World, a cargo airline, Captain John Okakpu, in his presentation, and he said that one of the primary failures of the Nigerian export process is the inability to match exports to markets, especially in the areas of documentation and certification requirements.
He said that exporters in Nigeria continue to rely on the country’s own bogus documentation and certifications standards, which are mostly not recognized anywhere else in the world.
What should be the first step in engaging in export business is to identify, analyze, and conform to the requirements of the proposed importing countries.
Therefore, the exporter has to provide the commodities needed; their satisfaction, and documentations.
It is generally agreed by various economic experts that agro-export is the surest way to shore up the country’s foreign exchange inflows. The government has been trying their best to initiate the process, but the economy is almost collapsing as a result of complete failures by the government agencies mandated and economically empowered to drive the process.
He said that it is not good for the country to be wallowing in economic worthlessness due to the inability of the people in whose hands the economic lifeblood of the country hinges.
If proper attention is paid to the export market requirements, the country has the capacity to earn about $250 billion dollars annually from agro-exports alone.
The major obstacles preventing the country from having a seamless export experience are:
GAP Certifications (Good Agricultural Practice)
Our exit points that are chocked up with multiple/multiplication of agencies and too many MDAs (relevant and irrelevant); positioning themselves to drive export.
The agro-export program is 100% private sector driven and has to remain that way for many decades to come.
Nigeria has about five different programs on the agro program. Each of them died immediately after the regime is over and power changed hands. This tells us that private sector is the only alternative to handle the program. The public sector should only set up the enabling environment to drive the sector.
Mr. Okakpu lamented that they import almost everything they use in the aircraft business including fuel. There are also heavy government fees and taxes; with all these expenses, our agro products can never be competitive in the international market.
He said that almost all our farmers know nothing about GAP, they are not GAP certified. What the government should do is to invest in sponsoring the GAP certifications of our major known farmers who will eventually train the others.
It is not difficult to know that when you expend so much on shipment, it eventually adds to your cost of export, making the cost of your commodities not competitive in the international market.
We of this forum will continue to advise government to do the needful until the export environment becomes convenient enough for export to prosper in this country.
Don’t forget that we train exporters in our company. To know more, get in touch with our admin for more information.
I am sure that you will understand the need to talk about what to be done to make Nigeria’s agro-export commodities to meet international standards.
Nigeria has the potential of making earnings from agro-commodities to be far more than income from crude oil. Our goods are in high demand all over the world but the country had not been successful in exporting those goods and services that are in high demand overseas.
In a recent conference held in Lagos, Nigeria, experts tried to proffer solutions to the impediments to the export of local products and the huge economic gains that could be realized if the right decisions were taken to do the right things.
Nigeria has more than 15 million Nigerians living abroad, and they yearn for local foods and services. This country could have been earning billions of dollars from exportation of perishable goods if the right environment was created to handle the export.
One point to note is that the situation under which our perishable and manufactured goods are produced in the country is still below the standard acceptable in the foreign countries where the demand for those goods is very high.
During the conference, many experts in aviation and cargo handling companies brainstormed on how to maximize the benefits of Nigerian made products.
It is important to look at what one of the experts said, he is the CEO of ABX World, a cargo airline, Captain John Okakpu, in his presentation, and he said that one of the primary failures of the Nigerian export process is the inability to match exports to markets, especially in the areas of documentation and certification requirements.
He said that exporters in Nigeria continue to rely on the country’s own bogus documentation and certifications standards, which are mostly not recognized anywhere else in the world.
What should be the first step in engaging in export business is to identify, analyze, and conform to the requirements of the proposed importing countries.
Therefore, the exporter has to provide the commodities needed; their satisfaction, and documentations.
It is generally agreed by various economic experts that agro-export is the surest way to shore up the country’s foreign exchange inflows. The government has been trying their best to initiate the process, but the economy is almost collapsing as a result of complete failures by the government agencies mandated and economically empowered to drive the process.
He said that it is not good for the country to be wallowing in economic worthlessness due to the inability of the people in whose hands the economic lifeblood of the country hinges.
If proper attention is paid to the export market requirements, the country has the capacity to earn about $250 billion dollars annually from agro-exports alone.
The major obstacles preventing the country from having a seamless export experience are:
GAP Certifications (Good Agricultural Practice)
Our exit points that are chocked up with multiple/multiplication of agencies and too many MDAs (relevant and irrelevant); positioning themselves to drive export.
The agro-export program is 100% private sector driven and has to remain that way for many decades to come.
Nigeria has about five different programs on the agro program. Each of them died immediately after the regime is over and power changed hands. This tells us that private sector is the only alternative to handle the program. The public sector should only set up the enabling environment to drive the sector.
Mr. Okakpu lamented that they import almost everything they use in the aircraft business including fuel. There are also heavy government fees and taxes; with all these expenses, our agro products can never be competitive in the international market.
He said that almost all our farmers know nothing about GAP, they are not GAP certified. What the government should do is to invest in sponsoring the GAP certifications of our major known farmers who will eventually train the others.
It is not difficult to know that when you expend so much on shipment, it eventually adds to your cost of export, making the cost of your commodities not competitive in the international market.
We of this forum will continue to advise government to do the needful until the export environment becomes convenient enough for export to prosper in this country.
Don’t forget that we train exporters in our company. To know more, get in touch with our admin for more information.